Spark-controller for explosive-engines.



A. L. MUELLER.

SPARK CONTROLLER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.18,'1911.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGIIAPH 50-, WASHINGTON, B. c.

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ilNlTFi ALBERT LOUIS MOELLER, OF MISHICOTT, WISCON$IN.

SPARK-CONTROLLER. FOR EXPLOSI Vii-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 14,1913.

Application filed March 18, 1911. Serial No. 615,289.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AL ERT LoUIs Mom.- LnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mishicott, in the county of Manitowoc and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark-Controllers for Explosive-Engines, of

which the following is a specification.

The present invention involves improvements in spark controlling mechanism for explosive engines, and the object of the invention primarily is to provide means of the above class utilizing a minimum amount of battery current, the sparking circuit for the igniting devices not including the engine cylinder.

For a full understanding of the present invention, reference is to be had to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an explosive engine showing the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a detail section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken through the igniting means; Fig. a is a detail combined perspective view of the stop arm and actuating arm; Fig. 5 is a view of a modified adaptation of the invention; Fig. 6 is a detail combined perspective View of the stop arm and actuating arm.

Throughout the following detail description and on the several figures of the drawings, similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

In the drawing, 1 denotes the usual engine cylinder and 2 the engine shaft. On the shaft 2 is the cam 3 by which the exhaust lever t is operated intermittently, said lever i being connected by the customary exhaust valve rod 5 to the exhaust valve, the latter not being shown. On a side of the cylinder 1 are the spaced contacts 6 adapted to be connected at proper intervals of time by a contact arm 7 suitably secured to the rod 5.

The igniting devices for the engine comprise the electrodes 8 and 9, the electrode 9 being stationary and insulated from the supporting plate 10 on which it is mounted, while the electrode 8 is rotatable in a bushing 11, passing through the plate 10 and suitably insulated therefrom. Circuit wires 12 and 13 connect with the outer portions of the electrodes 8 and 9 respectively and include the Contact 6, the battery 14; and the switch 15. On the inner end of the movable electrode 8 is the contact arm 8, wiile on the outer end portion of the electrode 8 are mounted a stop arm 16 and an actuating arm 17. The arm 16 is bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 5 and is adj ustably secured to the electrode 8 by a suitable cam screw. The actuating arm 17 has a journal member 17 through which the electrode 8 passes at its outer end, and the arm 17 has a lateral inwardly extending projection 17 arranged to engage an end portion of the arm 16, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Secured at one end to the outer extremity of the electrode 8 is a coiled spring 18, the inner end of said spring being engaged and thus connected with the journal member 17 of the actuating arm 17. Connected with the end portion of the arm 16 opposite that engaged by the member 17 is a second coiled spring 19. The exhaust valve rod 5 carries a kicker lever 20 of conventional form provided with an insulated contact 21 adapted to engage with the outer extremity of the arm 17.

The operation of the invention as thus far described is as follows: As the rod 5 is raised carrying with it the kicker lever 20, the contact 21 of the latter strikes the outer end of the actuating arm 17 of the electrode 8, thus moving the arm 17 upwardly and by reason of the spring connection 18, causing the electrode 8 to rotate until the contact arm 8 strikes the cooperating contact 9 of the electrode 9. IVhen the members 8 and 9 are in contact, any slight further movement upward of the arm 17 is permitted by reason of the spring 18 forming a resilient connection between the parts 8 and 17. The tension of the spring 18 is stronger than the spring 19 so that when the part 17 is raised, the stop arm engaged by the projection 17 is also simultaneously raised. When the kicker lever 20 returns to its normal position moving downwardly, the tension of the spring 19 is sufiicient to restore the parts 16 and 17 to their normal positions.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a modified adaptation of the invention, wherein the parts 16 17 19 and associated members operate substantially the same as the members 16, 17 and 19 above described. In the modification, however, the kicker lever 20* is carried by an angle lever 22 operated directly by the exhaust valve roc 5. As shown in Fig. 6, the member 22 is in the position assumed thereby just subsequent to operation of the members 16 and 17. The lever 20 is susceptible of adjustment by means of the pin 23 and the spring 24.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

Ignition means for explosive engines comprising, in combination, an engine cylinder, a stationary electrode thereon, a rocking electrode in proximity to the stationary electrode, a bushing interposed between the rocking electrode and the engine cylinder, said rocking electrode projecting beyond each end of the bushing, clamping nuts on the bushing to fasten a circuit wire there to for conducting the electric current to or from the rocking electrode, a stop arm hav ing a bifurcated portion to receive the outer end of the rocking electrode, a clamp screw passing through the bifurcated "portion for securing the stop arm on the rocking electrode, a spring for retaining the rocking electrode in its normal position after operat-ion of the latter, an actuating arm loosely mounted on the rocking electrode and provided with a projection adapted to engage the stop arm, a spring secured at one end to the rocking electrode and the opposite end to the actuating arm for retaining the projection 0n the latter normally against the stop arm, and means to engage the actuating arm for operating the rocking electrode In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

ALBERT LOUIS MOELLER. \Vitnesses:

EMMA R. ZEMAN, ROBERT BUBOLZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

